Pena Herrera Playground

What was here before?

From the late 19th century until World War II, the area between 45th Street and 60th Street in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn was once called Little Norway. Norwegian immigrants settled here, drawn by the maritime industry on the Brooklyn waterfront. They established several organizations and churches that flourished here, along with the social services institutions for which Scandinavia is famous. 

European immigration peaked in the 19th century as newcomers from Ireland, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Scandinavia found work on the waterfront and established enclaves in the area. Many row houses and brownstones in Sunset Park were built during this period. In the 1970s, the reintroduction of the light industry to the area attracted a new wave of immigrants from Latin America and Asia. The playground now serves an increasingly diverse community, notable for its sizeable Latino and Asian population.

How did this site become a playground?

The City assigned this property to NYC Parks in 1958, and the playground opened in 1968. The property is a Jointly Operated Playground (JOP) serving the school and the local community. Beginning in 1938, the Board of Education agreed to provide land next to schools where NYC Parks could build and maintain playgrounds that could be used by the school during the day and the public on evenings and weekends. The playground offers basketball and handball courts, benches, and a public restroom. 

Who is this playground named for?

Formerly known as P.S. 1 Playground for the adjoining school, this playground was renamed Peña Herrera Playground in 2003 to honor the four members of the Peña-Herrera family who were killed by a drunk driver on August 4, 2001. Maria Herrera, 24, her four-year-old son Andy, unborn child Ricardo, and her sister Dilcia Peña, were fatally struck by off-duty police officer Joseph Gray, who was under the influence of alcohol. The playground was designated the Peña Herrera Playground on the 11th anniversary of the family’s death.